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She said: “I was a stay-at-home mum for about eight years. I had no confidence at all and had really low self-esteem. I was suffering from anxiety and depression and I was in a bad place.

“I knew I had to sort my life out and when I saw an advert for an apprenticeship I thought I’d give it a go.

“I didn’t just want any job, I wanted something that I could do long-term.”

Sophie joined Diamond Families in 2017, on a 15-month apprenticeship with Axia Solutions.

The Longton-based company is an educational and therapeutic centre for children aged between seven and 18, who struggle with mainstream education due to a variety of reasons such as learning difficulties and special needs.

Sophie White.

Her day-to-day responsibilities can range from answering email enquiries and inputting invoices to liaising with payroll and communicating with parents and various local authorities.

She is also a fire marshall, a First Aider and the first point of call for any problems.

She said: “I never thought I would be where I am today all those years ago. I had no confidence and no faith in myself.

“But this opportunity has made me realise that I am capable and I can do it, and I’m so glad I did.”

She added: “I finish my apprenticeship in January and I want to stay at Diamond Families. I’m hoping to enrol on another course too – either another business admin course or an accounting one.”